'Today was about the fans. They won't forget seeing their team win the Cup'

Harry Redknapp said it was a 'dream come true' when Nwankwo Kanu's 37th-minute goal gave Portsmouth a second FA Cup triumph in 69 years and also confirmed entry into the Uefa Cup next season, which will bring European football to Fratton Park for the first time in the club's history.

'It's fantastic for everybody - my family, the players, it's great. It has been a difficult year off the field,' Redknapp said, alluding to the dawn raid on his house last November, which was part of the City of London Police investigation into corruption in football, and the recent death of his sister-in-law Pat, the mother of Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

Kanu's strike gave Redknapp the first major trophy of a managerial career that began at Bournemouth in October 1983 before taking in West Ham, a previous spell at Portsmouth and briefly Southampton. Had this been his finest achievement?

'It's a great day, there's glory in winning,' he said. 'But keeping Portsmouth up two years ago is the better achievement, football-wise. Today was all about the fans wasn't it? Seeing their club win the FA Cup - they won't forget it. If you'd told them six years ago they would finish eighth [in the Premier League] and win this trophy they wouldn't have believed it.

'Now, if I can, I'm going to go upstairs to see the family and try to slip away at seven - get my wife in the car and go to a little Italian restaurant around the corner from home, have a lovely bottle of red wine, make sure the two dogs are OK. Then get up in the morning and have a lovely ride on a bus,' Redknapp added of the planned parade around Portsmouth today.

How had he seen the final? 'Cardiff were putting us under pressure, putting balls in the box, they played well, worked hard. When we get in front we're difficult to break down, and the defence were terrific.'

Did Redknapp believe he could take the club any further? 'I don't know, it's about bringing players in - we'll be looking to do that in the summer like everyone else. I've got some very good players already, but I am looking to buy.'

Kanu's winner came after City keeper Peter Enckelman failed to deal with John Utaka's cross. The Cardiff manager, Dave Jones, admitted 'a slight mistake cost us', but said 'there's no blame to be attached. Now, you've got to let us have a little bit of sorrow. Let us wallow in our self-pity a little bit, I've just lost a Cup final.'

Jones also said he was content with his team's effort. 'We gave it everything we've got and done everyone proud. What we have [also] done today is prove that maybe other teams can achieve what they thought was impossible - I think it'll be a long time until the next Championship club makes it to the FA Cup final.

'I saw a stat the other day that said 19 of the last 21 finals has been contested between the top four of the Premier League. Well, the big boys [the rest of the Premier League clubs] will be saying that they can do this as well, and make it to the final.

'Now, we've got to start competing in our own division,' he added. 'We've struggled for two years, no money for the last two years. We've now got a brand-new stadium, fantastic training facilities and if we don't move on from here, we want shooting.'